June 9, 2014
NOTHING BUT THE BEST
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
Jimmy Ratcliffe
Central Truth
God calls us to be holy. "[S]ince it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" (1 Peter 1:16) This is an impossible feat on our own, but fully possible for everyone who trusts in Jesus Christ.
Key Verse | 1 Thessalonians 4:7–8
For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8)
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
A Life Pleasing to God
1 Finally, then, brothers, 1 4:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 10, 13 we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: 2 4:3 Or your holiness that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body 3 4:4 Or how to take a wife for himself; Greek how to possess his own vessel in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
Dive Deeper | 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
Sanctification, as defined by Wikipedia, is the act or process of acquiring sanctity, of being made or becoming holy.
"Holy" is not a word that comes to mind when describing myself. Although, there are many other words that don't come close to meaning the same thing that I could use. Yet, holy is exactly what God expects of us. "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." (Leviticus 19:2b)
Me, be holy? Impossible! I am too messed up. I have done too much wrong. However, the fact is, it doesn't matter what I have done, good or bad. By myself there is nothing I can do to be worthy of God. But it is NOT impossible! I, a wretched sinner, have been made holy through the blood of Christ, my Lord and Savior. This is the good news, and I am to share it with others.
Regardless of what we have experienced in our lives, we all are called by God to be holy. It doesn't matter what you have done, good or bad, we are all held to the same standard. Isaiah tells us, "For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away." (Isaiah 64:6, NASB)
God gave His Son to cover our sins -- ALL OUR SINS -- once and for all! We just have to believe in Him, and we are made holy. It is such a simple thing that it seems too good to be true. Perhaps that is why it is so hard for many to understand or accept. It is not really cheap though, it costs us our lives.
Discussion Questions
1. What are you doing or what can you do to please God in your daily walk?
2. What tools -- that Watermark or your local church offers -- have you used to strengthen your walk with Christ?